Jennifer Connelly
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Jennifer Connelly is an American actress whose early career became indelibly linked to David Bowie through her starring role in the fantasy film Labyrinth (1986). The collaboration paired Bowie’s theatrical, otherworldly screen presence with Connelly’s grounded and emotionally sincere performance.
Although Connelly was still a teenager at the time, Labyrinth became a defining cultural touchstone, securing her place within Bowie’s extended creative universe and introducing her to a global audience.
- Born: 1970, United States
- Role: Actress
- Film: Labyrinth (1986)
- Bowie connection: On-screen co-star
Early career
Jennifer Connelly began her career as a child model before transitioning into film acting in the early 1980s. Her natural screen presence and emotional clarity quickly distinguished her from many of her contemporaries.
By the time she was cast in Labyrinth, Connelly had already demonstrated an ability to anchor fantastical narratives with sincerity and realism.
Labyrinth (1986)
Directed by Jim Henson, Labyrinth blended puppetry, fantasy and music into a surreal coming-of-age story. David Bowie’s portrayal of Jareth, the Goblin King, brought rock-star charisma and theatrical menace to the film.
Connelly’s character, Sarah, serves as the emotional core of the story — a young girl navigating desire, responsibility and self-discovery within an abstract dream world.
Dynamic with David Bowie
The contrast between Bowie’s flamboyant, androgynous performance and Connelly’s restrained realism created a unique on-screen tension. Their interaction gave the film its enduring psychological depth.
Bowie’s musical numbers function less as traditional songs and more as extensions of his character’s manipulative charm and existential ambiguity.
Cult legacy
Although Labyrinth received mixed reviews upon release, it gradually achieved cult status. For many viewers, the film became an early introduction to Bowie’s artistic universe.
Connelly’s performance has been retrospectively praised for its emotional grounding, allowing the film’s surreal elements to resonate on a human level.